For a while, it looked like you could buy Harley Benton guitars on Reverb as if they were being sold directly from the USA. But there was always a catch. Those guitars still had to come from Germany first — and that meant tariffs. Why Harley Benton on Reverb Was Cheaper (Until Now) Import tariffs […] The post Harley Benton Guitars, Reverb, and the Real Cost of Tariffs appeared first on Guitars Done Right ™.
For a while, it looked like you could buy Harley Benton guitars on Reverb as if they were being sold directly from the USA.
But there was always a catch.
Those guitars still had to come from Germany first — and that meant tariffs.
Why Harley Benton on Reverb Was Cheaper (Until Now)
Import tariffs on guitars entering the U.S. from Germany have been volatile for years, but they typically add 15–20% or more to the declared value of the instrument. On top of that, there are:
- Customs processing fees
- Brokerage fees
- Possible surcharges based on materials
If a guitar contains certain metals (such as aluminum), additional tariffs may apply, further increasing the cost.
In some cases, these combined fees can nearly double the true import cost of a guitar.
How Harley Benton Made It Work (Temporarily)
Harley Benton managed to soften the blow by:
- Shipping guitars in bulk to the U.S.
- Selling through Reverb’s U.S. platform, reducing per-unit shipping and processing costs
- Absorbing part of the tariff burden themselves
Customers benefited too — lower (domestic) shipping costs, fewer surprise fees, and predictable pricing.
But that system came with its own downside: warehousing costs, which Harley Benton could only absorb for so long.
What Changes on January 31, 2026
As of January 31, 2026, that arrangement ended.
The Reverb-based U.S. distribution model is no longer offsetting tariffs in the same way. The result?
- Harley Benton guitars are no longer shielded from import duties
- Buyers now pay full tariffs, fees, and processing costs
- Any savings from bulk shipping are effectively gone
Yes — you can still buy direct from Harley Benton.
But now, you’re paying those tariffs and fees yourself.
The Bottom Line
Nothing about the guitars changed.
Nothing about the quality changed.
What changed is who pays the tariffs — and now, that’s the buyer.
If you’re wondering why prices look different, or why the “great deal” doesn’t look quite as great anymore, this is why.
👉 Here’s the link to Harley Benton’s full official statement explaining the change.
Here’s a link to their entire statement.
The post Harley Benton Guitars, Reverb, and the Real Cost of Tariffs appeared first on Guitars Done Right ™.
